Thailand Live Friday 5 Jun 2015

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Mukdahan begins reclamation of forest land from illegal rubber growers

MUKDAHAN, 5 June 2015 (NNT) - Mukdahan Province has begun reclaiming forest land by sending out a combined force of civil and military personnel to cut down rubber trees illegally grown by encroachers.

Deputy Governor of Mukdahan Sakolsarit Bunpradit kicked off the program by releasing rows of combined task forces in front of the provincial hall.

Initially the target area of the joint operation is a ten-rai land plot in Dong Bung Iee Forest Reserve, Dong Yen Subdistrict, in the central district of Mukdahan.

Mukdahan Governor said after the launching ceremony that the reclaimed land will be rehabilitated to good use. About 7,000 rai of forest land in the province have been encroached by rubber growers.


-- NNT 2015-06-05

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Agriculture Min admits inability to end IUU fishing by deadline

BANGKOK, 5 June 2015 (NNT) – Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Petipong Pungbun Na Ayudhya has indicated a possibility that Thailand’s effort to eradicate illegal fishing will not yet be successful within the six-month deadline given by the European Union.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830537-thai-agriculture-min-admits-inability-to-end-iuu-fishing-by-eu-deadline/

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Known American scammer cheats Thai Man in Pattaya out of 32,000 Baht



PATTAYA: -- On Thursday afternoon a 21 year old Thai man reported being scammed out of 32,000 Baht by an American he met on a Gay Website.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830538-known-american-scammer-cheats-thai-man-in-pattaya-out-of-32000-baht/

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Shisha and illegal gun found at outdoor bar complex in Central Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Thursday Banglamung District Officers conducted a raid on an outdoor bar complex in Central Pattaya where it was reported that unlicensed Shisha was being sold to customers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830539-shisha-and-illegal-gun-found-at-outdoor-bar-complex-in-central-pattaya/

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UPDATE:

Reward offered as motorbike is rammed by car in Central Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- Late on Wednesday Night a White Toyota Vios rammed a motorbike off the road causing the driver and passenger on the bike to fall onto the road. Both the victims cannot explain why the car driver rammed their vehicle.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830335-car-really-commits-to-ramming-motorbike-in-pattaya/page-2?p=9482726#entry9482726

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Checks for over-charging Lottery Ticket vendors begin in Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- The Chief of Banglamung District led a team of over 80 officers, including members of the Thai Army and Police on an operation to check around Pattaya and the surrounding area for Lottery Ticket Vendors who were charging more than 80 Baht for tickets.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830540-checks-for-over-charging-lottery-ticket-vendors-begin-in-pattaya/

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MODELS FROM KMITL
Making capital cycle-friendly
The Nation



KMITL students offer models to help reduce carbon emissions in Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- KING MONGKUT'S Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) yesterday unveiled the models of three cycling facilities that could support Bangkok's bid to become a bicycle-friendly city and reduce carbon emissions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830541-making-bangkok-cycle-friendly/

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IF PROTECTED
I'll stay on if people want me to: PM
KRIS BHROMSUTHI,
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH,
ANAPAT DEECHUAY
THE NATION



PRAYUT SAYS HE COULD CONTINUE UNTIL REFORMS ARE COMPLETED IF HE IS PROTECTED FROM CRITICISM

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday stated for the first time that he was ready to remain in power for another two years to complete the national reforms.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830542-ill-stay-on-if-people-want-me-to-pm-prayut/

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UPDATE:

HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Manas hit with 13 charges, bail plea denied
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- LT-GENERAL Manas Khongpaen, a special adviser in the Army, yesterday was hit with a total of 13 charges over his alleged role as the ringleader of a major trafficking operation in southern Thailand of the Rohingya and other migrants, while a court rejected his bail plea.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830349-human-trafficking-crackdown-thai-army-officer-faces-13-charges/#entry9482741

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Solutions offered for inequality in state healthcare schemes
MESINEE MUANGPIN,
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM
THE NATION



COUNCIL SHOULD BE SET UP TO NEGOTIATE BETWEEN THE THREE NATIONAL SYSTEMS AND A RELATED LAW BE PASSED, PANEL PROPOSES

BANGKOK: -- A MEETING led by the Thailand Development Research Institute Foundation (TDRI) was told that the government should establish a National Council on Health Insurance (NCHI) and pass a new law on national healthcare management to tackle the chronic problem of inequality in the national healthcare system.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830543-solutions-offered-for-inequality-in-thailands-healthcare-schemes/

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UPDATE:

REFERENDUM
Wissanu offers 4 options if charter rejected
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- DEPUTY PM Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday he would present the Cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order four options to pick from if the charter draft does not pass a referendum.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830440-four-options-outlined-in-case-draft-thai-charter-fails-in-referendum/#entry9482761

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EDITORIAL
World Bank zeroes in on Thai education
The Nation

But the government is still placing the emphasis on saving face rather than securing the Kingdom's future prosperity

BANGKOK: -- A recent report from the World Bank titled "Thailand's Economic Monitor" shed light on a number of weak points the Kingdom needs to address. Among the most disturbing was the state of the education system here, which clearly requires substantial reform.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830544-world-bank-zeroes-in-on-thai-education/

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OVERDRIVE
Debt-ridden Thailand being sucked into whirlpool of deflation
Thanong Khanthong

BANGKOK: -- Disinflation - or negative inflation - has hit Thailand for the past five months in a row. In the first quarter of this year, inflation was minus-0.5 per cent. The situation worsened in April, with inflation at negative-1.04 per cent. In May the disinflation surged to -1.27 per cent, prompting growing concern as to whether deflation is waiting on the horizon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830545-debt-ridden-thailand-being-sucked-into-whirlpool-of-deflation/

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Junta slammed for banning talks on violation of rights
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- BANNING talk on human rights violations under the military junta only proves that the human rights situation is not getting better one year after the coup, said human rights lawyer Yaowalak Anuphan, a key member of the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830546-ncpo-slammed-for-banning-talks-on-violation-of-rights/

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Cabinet meeting in Thaksin heartland doesn't faze Prayut
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE government is considering the option of holding a mobile Cabinet meeting in Chiang Mai late this month, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830547-cabinet-meeting-in-thaksin-heartland-doesnt-faze-prayut/

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Udon Thani factory operators face legal action over water pollution
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The operators of two Udon Thani factories are facing legal action for allegedly causing water pollution that killed scores of fish in a canal in Muang and Kud Chap districts over a five-day period in April.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830548-udon-thani-factory-operators-face-legal-action-over-water-pollution/

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Police expect FBI to help nab UFUN-related couple
Kornkamon Aksorndech,
Pensri Kaden
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE US FEDERAL Bureau of Investigations (FBI) will help track down Lt-General Athiwat Soonpan and his wife if Thailand files an official request, a deputy national police chief said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830549-thai-police-expect-fbi-to-help-nab-ufun-related-couple/

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Four Resistant Citizen members released on bail
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Military Court yesterday released on bail four people belonging to the Resistant Citizen group after they were charged with violating orders issued by the National Council for Peace and Order.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830550-four-resistant-citizen-members-released-on-bail/

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Six international airports placed on high alert for MERS-CoV



BANGKOK: -- Thai health officials have now placed six international airports in the country on high alert following the rising cases of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in South Korea.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830551-six-international-thai-airports-placed-on-high-alert-for-mers-cov/

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Five local senior police transferred after 191 police raid of a South Korean online gambling gang



BANGKOK: -- Five senior police officers at Makasan police station were transferred today after an online betting service in a luxurious condominium was raided by 191 police.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830552-5-senior-thai-police-transferred-after-191-police-raid-of-a-s-korean-online-gambling-gang/

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US wants to have a share in infrastructure projects in Thailand



BANGKOK: -- The United States is interested to co-invest in infrastructure projects in Thailand and it has also offered to arrange for officials of the Federal Aviation Administration to examine the performance of the Thai Civil Aviation Department.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830553-us-wants-to-have-a-share-in-infrastructure-projects-in-thailand/

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Massive breach of federal personnel data
KEN DILANIAN, Associated Press
RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hackers broke into the U.S. government personnel office and stole identifying information of at least 4 million federal workers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830554-us-hit-by-massive-data-breach/

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Greece to bundle its June IMF payments together
NICHOLAS PAPHITIS, Associated Press
DEREK GATOPOULOS, Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Desperate for time, Greece is taking an unusual step in talks over its bailout program: It will bundle four payments due this month to the International Monetary Fund into one payment on June 30.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830555-greece-to-delay-imf-debt-payment/

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Texas doctors do first skull and scalp transplant
By MARILYNN MARCHIONE

HOUSTON: -- Texas doctors say they have done the world's first partial skull and scalp transplant to help a man with a large head wound from cancer treatment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830556-us-doctors-do-worlds-first-skull-and-scalp-transplant/

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IS reduces water supply to government areas in Iraq's Anbar
By SAMEER N. YACOUB

BAGHDAD (AP) — Islamic State militants have reduced the amount of water flowing to government-held areas in Iraq's western Anbar province, officials said Thursday, a move that highlights the use of water as a weapon of war and puts more pressure on Iraqi forces struggling to claw back ground held by the extremists in the Sunni heartland.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830557-is-reduces-water-supply-to-government-areas-in-iraqs-anbar/

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Rick Perry goes at it again, launches 2016 bid
By WILL WEISSERT

ADDISON, Texas (AP) — Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry opened his second bid for the Republican presidential nomination Thursday, pledging to "end an era of failed leadership" and hoping this campaign will go better than his last one.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830558-rick-perry-goes-at-it-again-launches-2016-bid/

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Death toll up to 150 in Ghana gas station explosion, floods
By FRANCIS KOKUTSE

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — The death toll from a huge gas station explosion and flooding in Ghana's capital has more than doubled to 150 people, the president said Thursday night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830559-death-toll-up-to-150-in-ghana-gas-station-explosion-floods/

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JIANLI, China (AP) - Chinese state media say capsized ship in Yangtze River has been righted.

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All fuel prices save diesel increased by 0.40 baht

BANGKOK, 5 June 2015, (NNT) - PTT and Bangchak have announced a 40 satng per liter fuel price hike for Benzene and Gasohol. The changes take effect this morning.

The new pump prices in Bangkok and its vicinity are as follows: Benzene 95 is now 35.16 baht per liter, gasohol 95 and 91 cost 29.40 baht and 28.58 baht a liter, respectively. E20 and E85 gasohol are going for 27.18 baht and 23.28 baht per liter, respectively.

Diesel price, however, remains unchanged, at 25.99 baht a liter.

The new prices already took effect this morning.


-- NNT 2015-06-05

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French businessman electrocuted in Pattaya

Pattaya, Chon Buri:- A French resident in Pattaya was electrocuted and killed while he was trying to fix a water pump in his house Thursday night, police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/830571-french-businessman-electrocuted-in-pattaya/